Coalition Of Antiabortion Groups Seeks To Petition For Grand Jury Investigation Of Planned Parenthood Clinic

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 05 Oct 2007 - 7:00 PDT

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Life is for Everyone, a coalition of the antiabortion groups led by Operation Rescue, is seeking signatures for a petition to convene a grand jury in Johnson County, Kan., to investigate whether Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri's Overland Park, Kan., clinic Comprehensive Health is complying with state abortion laws, the Kansas City Star reports.

The petition calls for a grand jury to investigate whether illegal late-term abortions are performed at PPKM clinics. The petition also seeks to determine whether PPKM fails to report child abuse or illegally traffics fetal tissue. In addition, the coalition wants a grand jury to determine whether PPKM provides "false information in order to induce government action or inaction," abides by parental consent requirements for minors seeking abortion, enforces a 24-hour waiting period for abortions and follows the required standard of care in providing medical advice.

Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, said LIFE had reason to believe that PPKM and the Comprehensive Health clinic were violating the law. "There's too much controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood at this point," Newman said, adding, "I think an independent grand jury can get to the bottom of it." Tim Golba, a spokesperson for LIFE, said that PPKM is not being accused of wrongdoing but that the coalition aims to ensure that its clinics are obeying the law.

Golba said antiabortion advocates were encouraged to circulate the petition after learning that a grand jury is being convened in Wichita to investigate abortion provider George Tiller. Members of the coalition, which includes Concerned Women for America and Women Influencing the Nation, plan to speak with church leaders in Johnson County about providing information on the petition to their congregations, the Star reports.

Newman said that the required 3,500 signatures from registered voters likely could be collected within a few weeks. He added that the coalition aims to have more than 5,000 signatures. The petition then would need to be certified by the Johnson County Elections Office and approved by the county's district judges, the Star reports (Carroll, Kansas City Star, 10/2).

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